Indians bring back Matsuzaka, Capps

The Cleveland Indians announced Tuesday that the team has re-signed veteran pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Matt Capps to minor league contracts.

Both players had been recently released by the club after failing to make the
25-man roster out of spring training, moves that enabled the Indians to avoid
paying each a $100,000 bonus. Matsuzaka and Capps will instead begin the
upcoming season pitching for Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus.

Matsuzaka, an 18-game winner with the Boston Red Sox in 2008 whose career has
been derailed by arm problems in recent years, was beaten out by fellow non-
roster invitee Scott Kazmir for Cleveland's final spot in the starting
rotation. The Japanese right-hander did register a 2.25 earned run average
over eight innings in Cactus League play, however.

Capps has compiled 138 saves over eight major league seasons, including a high
of 42 between Washington and Minnesota in 2010, but was limited to 30
appearances and 29 1/3 innings with the Twins last year due to an injured
rotator cuff. The 29-year-old allowed two runs over six innings during the
spring.